This was such a sweet and cozy story, Oskar and Guinevere have my heart. If you're a fan of low-stakes fantasy, cozy romance, and a predictable story (not a criticism!), I highly recommend this. I knew absolutely nothing about CR going into this and only felt like I was missing out on some small references.

A really cutesy romance with subtle game clues but I lived thus for the original feeling the characters had and their personality traits lead to a cute romance between the two. This story was just feel good and funny throughout. 4.5 stars

Such a lighthearted, low stakes, fun fantasy! I have to admit I had no background on Dungeons and Dragons but I still loved this! It's was so much fun and a breath of fresh air. I thought Oskar was a great character, and I liked seeing Gwen's development through the book. Lovely stuff!

Do you suffer from a case of existential burnout from the current state of the world? Do you need a reprieve and a bit of dopamine while you’re at it? Might I suggest this book.
It’s cozy, funny, sweet, romantic and most importantly low stacks. A rollicking fantasy adventure with a Pride and Prejudice twist. It’ll have you laughing, swooning and kicking your feet. I personally didn't know anything about the Critical Role campaign this story is from but it didn't hinder my enjoyment whatsoever.
4.5 ★

I had never heard of Critical Role so I read this book purely because I love Thea Guanzon's writing and I'm a sucker for a cozy monster romance. This did not disappoint. It's sweet, spicy and heart warming with just enough action in the plot to keep things interesting. If you enjoyed Legends and Lattes, you'll love this.

This was absolutely everything I wanted it to be. I don't read romantasy but I'm a huge CR fan and I loved this to bits. I loved how Guanzon ran with the ideas from the show. I laughed a lot and I just love that a randomly mentioned bit in a D&D show became reality like this.

If Tusk Love had 100 fans, I would be one of them. If Tusk Love had 10 fans I would be one of them. If Tusk Love had one fan, it would be me. If Tusk Love had no fans, I would be dead. I love Tusk Love. I love critical role. I love Thea Guanzon. Thank you for the E-Arc.

I can’t stress enough how much I adored every second of this book.

As a very casual Critical Role fan, I went into Tusk Love semi-blind and expecting to be seriously confused. Which is how I can confirm that, D&D fan or not, Oskar and Guinevere story is a cozy-fantasy worth reading.

10/10, 5⭐️, no notes 👏

10/10 perfect fantasy romance.

I already came into this knowing I would absolutely adore it, I love critical role and I've liked Thea Guanzon's previous work - winning combo really!

The story revolves around our two main characters, firstly Guinevere, a very kind, slightly naive merchant’s daughter who is hiding hiding a very powerful secret—and Oskar, grumpy lovable half-orc. They are thrown together when a group of bandits attack Guinevere’s caravan and Oskar the heart of gold soul that he is steps in to save her.

This has the absolute BEST tropes okay:
Grumpy x Sunshine
there's only one bed
THERE'S ONLY ONE HORSE! (lmao)
forbidden romance
monster ?? romance
PINING!!!!

It doesn't take itself too seriously and honestly I just read the entire thing with a smile on my face as I love these two together so much.

As always thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

This was just as adorable as I expected it to be! It was sweet, romantic, and full of cozy vibes. I liked the adventure Gwen and Oskar ended up on. Both of them grew during the journey together. Honestly, the strongest feature of this book was the loveable characters.

The grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Gwen and Oskar was my favorite thing. It was done FLAWLESSLY. Their tension and love will just make you smile.

P.S. You don't have to be a Critical Role fan to enjoy this book! So if you were worried about that, don't be. Just read Tusk Love!

What to expect:
Grumpy x sunshine
Only one bed & only one horse
Half-orc x Merchant's daughter
Road trip
YEARNING

Thank you Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ridiculously good! This is romantic, cozy, silly, and charming all wrapped up in one. Add in excellent world and lore building and this is near perfect. The main characters are the cutest both individually and as a couple. Guinevere is sweet and naive, but never comes off cloying or obnoxious. Oskar is a grump, but actually a cinnamon roll and together they bring out the best in each other. Guinevere discovers that she is pretty tough and defiantly brave and Oskar learns to let his guard down and trust someone again. I devoured this one and really, really hope we are going to get more like this from Critical Role!

As a fan of Critical Role, this was a must-read. As someone who’s had The Hurricane wars on her TBR for far too long, I’m forever sold on Thea Guanzon after this read! I don’t know how anyone could have done a better job of bring Oskar to life. To take a beloved IP and build a story in a world that’s already so thick with lore and to do it in a way that seamlessly fits while still adding your own style, 10/10. I’m so thankful to Thea for how well she handled the source material and I am looking forward to recommending this book to both Critters as well as the uninitiated!

This book is ideal for readers who enjoy lighthearted fantasy romances where opposites attract amidst adventure, featuring emotional depth and spicy tension.

This book is a love letter to the historical romance genre infused with the magic of Dungeon and Dragons. Perfect late summer read for fans and non fans of Critical Role.

*SQUEALS* I loved this the whole way through. Made me kick my feet up and squeal over the cuteness because even though I KNOW it's not Jester & Fjord.... IT IS THEM AND IT'S SO CUTE and so well done. Hawt as fuck too.

This book was everything I love in a cozy fantasy romance! It had some adventure, some heat and was incredibly heartwarming. I laughed out loud so many times while listening to this book. These character's inner monologues were so funny. I also loved Gwen and Oskar's grumpy/sunshine dynamic. I adore sunshiney characters who have the ability to disarm even hardened criminals with a smile and Gwen is definitely one of those characters. It was so fun watching everyone in the story be charmed by her. This book also had some quality yearning (another staple of fantasy romance for me). From what I understand this is based off of a story referenced in a Critical Role campaign but you should be find to pick this up even if you have no Critical Role knowledge because I had no issues understanding the story. If you're looking for a fun, swoony fantasy romance that will make you laugh and make your heart melt this is definitely one to pick up.

ARC REVIEW 3.5⭐️

Tusk Love is a fun, cozy romantasy! I know nothing about Critical Role and Dungeons and Dragons, but that did not impact my reading experience and my enjoyment of the story.

I loved the relationship between Guinevere and Oskar. They are adorable and I loved their dynamic together. This had grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and the one bed trope! However, their relationship did feel a little rushed and I wish it would have been more of a slow burn. It was a little too insta-love for my liking. I wish more emotional depth would have been added to their relationship.

The plot was enjoyable, but predictable. I loved the adventurous feel, but it didn’t feel like a grand epic quest and was very much low-stakes. I think the plot could have benefited from a bit more conflict. I would have loved more of a deep dive into Guinevere’s magic and her struggle with controlling it.

Thea’s writing is beautiful and engaging as always! It is easy to read, but very descriptive and allows you to be immersed in the story. She perfectly balances the romance, humor, and adventure aspects of the story!

Overall, I had a great time reading Tusk Love ! It is a cute, easy read full of romance and adventure and fantasy elements! The characters are likable and adorable, but there is not a ton of depth in the story or relationships. This is a perfect read for when you want to read something light, whimsical, and fun that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

This was my first book by this author and I can say that I enjoyed it! As someone who isnt a huge romantasy reader, this book was both entertaining, and the grumpy to sunshine trope to me was done CORRECTLY. Usually I find in romantasy this trope often is misused and comes off as bully romance. The MMC is more like a "rough around the edges" but is deep down someone full of heart. Also Guineveres character is SO refreshing! She is just a well rounded kind person who loves strongly but still longs for more. While pacing was a bit on the slower side, I still enjoyed. The only thing I didnt care for was the insta lust/love. Im not a huge fan of that as whole, so I wouldnt really put it solely on this novel.

Reading Tusk Love is like being handed your favourite meal when hungry and you're not sure whether to wolf it down because you're starving or savour it slowly because it's your favourite. I did both. Some chapters I chewed over slowly and some I inhaled so fast I didn't realise until I was halfway through the book!

Tusk Love made me laugh, cry and yell outloud. Guinevere and Oskar no longer feel like characters, they feel like friends and I am heartbroken I had to close their book.

Thea took me on a journey, with a grumpy half orc and a sunshine human and made me love them (not that it was much of a chore) Guinevere grows so much from her slightly spoiled beginnings and that "No" when Guinevere realised what she wanted and her worth, held so much power I cheered for her. As for Oskar it was such a joy to watch him turn from a grumpy guy to protective cinnamon roll, every one of his smiles felt earned and only went to add to his growth.

I cried all through the last chapter, because saying goodbye was so hard, the ending was perfect.

If Thea wants to turn this in to a 500 book series I will devour every single one like it's the last thing I will ever read.

3.5 ⭐️

Tusk Love is a cozy adventure and lighthearted fantasy romance between a grumpy half-orc and a naïve merchant’s daughter. This is set in the world of Critical Role and I understand it to be based on a book that a CR character reads, but you do not need to know about that universe to enjoy it. (Source: myself.)

After Oskar saves Guinevere from a burning forest and bandit attack that’s left her alone, he agrees to keep her safe on the rest of her journey. He soon finds out that she’s on her way to deliver herself and her large, magical and mysterious dowry chest to a noble stranger who has made a deal with her parents for her hand in marriage.

Let’s get it out of the way – this is insta-lust. Oskar is immediately infatuated by Gwen and vice versa, but it wasn’t egregious or surprising because this book is quite short and a standalone. The two have a very hard time keeping their hands or minds off of each other, and there were quite a few intimate scenes for how short this is.

This was also pretty tropey. The grumpy peasant and the sunny aristocrat encounter both one bed and one horse. Oskar is half-orc, but ultimately he’s just a big green guy with tusks.

Gwen teetered on annoying for me, but I really liked Oskar and his ability to show and feel emotions as he struggled with grief and unworthiness. I especially appreciated how he called out her parent’s mistreatment of Gwen, let her know that their treatment and expectations of her weren’t normal or good, and supported her as she navigated her feelings around them. I do wish we got to see more of Gwen’s magic, which felt a bit underdeveloped for me.

I was a little surprised that we didn’t get to see an epilogue of the two of them visiting Oskar’s mother’s homeland as is referenced throughout the book, so that felt like a missed opportunity.

The writing style was fun, but I did have some issues with some of the grammar that was used. Many sentences started with conjunctions, and there were often sentences with no verb.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House, for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!